Burial-casket.



Nn. 633,364. Patente-d Dc. 5, |899..

` J. A. SHIPPARD.

BURIAL GASKET.

(Application led Apr. 1B, 1899.)

(No Model.)

ppn TAIR@ JAMES ALBERT SI-IIPPARD, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part cf Letters Patent No. 638,364, dated December 5, 1899. Application filed April 18, 1899I Serial No. 713,489. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern: i

Beit known that I, JAMES ALBERT SHIP- PARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Burial-Gaskets; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to improvements inburial-Gaskets and means for sealing the same to make them impervious to the effect of outside influences and prevent the access and escape of noxious gases or of infectious disease germs; and the object is to provide a casket impervious to exterior iniiuences and which will prevent the escape of all interior gases or disease germs existing in or emanating from a body contained in the casket and which will preserve the body for an indefinitely long period in its natural appearance and figure; and my invention therefore consists in the novel construction of the casket or coffin and the combination of parts, which Will be hereinafter described and specified, and particularly'pointed out in the claim.

I have fully and clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings a casket or coffin provided with my improvements, and wherein- Figure l is a perspective view of a burialcasket which has been closed and sealed in laccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the casket. Fig. 3 is an end view of the casket sealed, the original position or arrangement of the closure-naps being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 4 is an end view of the casket with the closures in open position.V Fig. 5 is a perspective of the interior closing-plate. Fig. 6 shows a modified application of the closing and sealing.

It Will be premised that While I have illustrated the casket as of the usual coffin shape it Will be easily perceived that it may be made of any suitable contour adapted to have its end closed and sealed by the infolding of sections formed integral with the end of the casket.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body of the casket, which may be made of be amenable to bending by the application of heat. In the interior of the casket, adjacent to the head thereof, is formed a rib or flange extending annularly around the interior, as at l, and contiguous to which on the outer side is formed a suitable seat 2, in which is seated and'closely iitted an impervious plate 3, made of glass, asbestos, steel, or other suitable material. This plate 8 is fitted in place and in its position serves to exclude the heat from gaining access to the body during the process of sealing the closures at the head of the casket.r On the end or head of the casket are formed angular extensions 4 4 4 4, which when heated at their bases may be turned inward Vuntil their edges aline and meet, when they are sealed, as hereinafter specified. These closure iiaps or extensions 4 are curved backward at their base and then outward in their relation to the casket and preferably have their side edges slightly bent or directed toward their rear faces, forming small flanges which lie against each other and are readily melted down when the sections are turned down into position of alinement to close the end of the casket. Suitable handles h may be molded on the casket or otherwise secured thereto.

To utilize the casket, the body is placed on a suitable board 5, provided witha head-rest 6, and the board, with the body thereon, pushed into the casket until the head will be free from the plate 3 when inserted. The plate 3 is then fitted in position, as indicated in Fig. R2 of the drawings, and then heat is applied to the closure-naps until they become pliable, when they are turned inward into alinement and their edges sealed, if they are not tight and coalesced, by the application of heat directly applied to the seams. It is preferred that the heat be applied from the free ends of the closures and gradually carried back until the bases are reached, when they will bend or may be bent inward toward the center, the bases forming a ridge or bead 7, as indicated. As the closures are united the action or movement, together with the consequent contraction or compression, seals the plate 3 in position.

It will thus be perceived that I provide a casket or coffin which is impervious to all outglass or other suitable material which may side iniiuences tending to decompose the IOO body, and at the same time is proof against the escape of all infectious associated emanations which might be dangerous to the community. I also provide a casket which will indefinitely preserve the body in a natural condition and which, being impervious, will prevent contamination of surroundings land which when removal from the burial place or grave is required need not be replaced by a new inclosure. The casket is also useful in transporting the body of a person who has died from infectious disease, since there is no danger of the escape of disease germs. For the purpose of transportation in such cases the casket may be inclosed in a suitable box as in other instances.

In order that the casket may be as light as possible and strong enough to serve the purposes intended, it is preferably made of untempered glass and colored to suit the taste of the buyer.

The casket may be inclosed in an outer casket or box,.if desired.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings is illustrated a modified application of my method or process of closing and sealing the casket, wherein the casket is of identical construction with that indicated in the other illustrations excepting that the open end is deprived of the closure flaps or extensions and the end edges made plane and straight and the closing and sealing effected by means of a closing-plate S, which is secured in place by being rst heated to pliability and then arranged in position and pressed against the edges of the open end of the casket, and should there be remaining any interstice or seam not entirely sealed heat is applied to cause the parts to coalesce.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The burial-casket herein described made of impervious material and having an open end adapted to receive a body, a closure for said open end adapted to close and seal the casket by the application of heat thereto and a device within the casket to prevent the transmission of heat from the closure to the interior of the casket.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JAMES ALBERT SHIPPARD.

lVitnesses:

GEO. H. EvANs, WALLACE MURDOCK. 

